The Republican Party didn’t get what it wanted–Hillary Clinton’s head on a silver platter (metaphorically speaking)–but the FBI’s report on her use of a personal computer server to handle sensitive information should give Donald Trump plenty of campaign ammunition.

FBI Director James Comey said Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless” in their handling of sensitive government documents during her tenure as secretary of state, and that many of her claims of innocence didn’t stand up under investigation.

Clinton initially said she didn’t receive or send classified information on her personal computer, then said later none of it was marked as classified at the time. The FBI investigation determined that 110 emails contained classified information when they were sent or received.

The FBI probe also concluded that:

–Clinton and her staff “should have known that an unclassified system was no place” for their email conversations;

–The Clinton State Department lacked “the kind of care for classified information found elsewhere in the government”;

–“Hostile actors” could have gained access to the email accounts of Clinton associates she communicated with on a regular basis.

A report by the State Department inspector general determined that her email arrangement violated department rules, that she didn’t seek permission to use a personal computer, and that her account had been shut down at least once for fear it had been hacked.

All of this is new fodder for people who don’t trust Clinton, who believe she has something to hide. It also makes it hard for her to make the claim that Donald Trump lacks the judgement and character to be president–the FBI probe shows she is deficient in both areas.

You can bet the Trump campaign will get as much mileage out of “extremely careless” as it can. Hillary’s best hope is that Trump continues his habit of shooting himself in the foot, deflecting attention from his attacks on Clinton.

One Response to GOP got plenty of ammo, even if it didn’t get Hillary’s head

At his first big rally Wednesday after Comey’s announcement, Trump opened with a few perfunctory remarks then went on to the subjects that really interested him. He criticized NBC political guru Chuck Todd, praised Saddam Hussein’s handling of terrorists, and defended his use of the Star of David in in a Hillary hit piece.

The man is incapable of admitting he’s wrong, and can’t let any slight or criticism go unanswered.